Admission Criteria

Regular Admission

The graduate nursing program admits students in Fall and Spring semesters. Applicants should possess the following:

Evidence of a baccalaureate degree in nursing from an accredited undergraduate nursing program.

Evidence of a valid, unencumbered Louisiana Registered Nurse license.

All transcripts from the undergraduate school and any work attempted at the graduate level. Submit documentation of satisfactory standing in graduate nursing program at last institution attended (if applicable).

A current resume, including applicant’s full name, address, telephone number(s), email address(es), academic preparation, degrees held, honors, awards, special interest work history, and other relevant information.

A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale for last 60 undergraduate hours of required nursing degree courses, as indicated by a transcript.

A minimum GRE formula score of 1,200 (150 x cumulative GPA on last 60 undergraduate hours + GRE General Test [verbal and quantitative] scores) if taken prior to August 1, 2011 OR obtain a minimum GRE formula score of 340 (20 x cumulative GPA on last 60 undergraduate hours + GRE General Text [verbal and quantitative] scores) if taken after August 1, 2011. The last 60 undergraduate hours must pertain directly to required nursing degree courses.

Completed a course in introductory statistics with a minimum grade of “C” or equivalent.

A Letter of Intent/Purpose with rationale for pursuing study in selected concentration.

Students meeting admission criteria does not guarantee admission to the MSN program. Additionally, ICMSN programs reserve the right to limit the number of students enrolled in a course in order to make the most effective use of educational resources available.

During the first semester of enrollment of regular admission the student must:

File a degree plan with the MSN Graduate Coordinator, in accordance with the General Requirements of the Master’s Degree in the Graduate School section of the Catalog.

Provisional Status

An applicant who meets all requirements for admission to the master’s degree program except for the GRE formula score of 1200 or 340 (depending on year taken) may seek provisional status. For acceptance to provisional status, the student must have a minimum of at least 1,000 on the formula score (prior to August 1, 2011) or a minimum of at least 300 on the formula score (after August 1, 2011) and with a minimum grade point average of 2.7 on last 60 undergraduate hours of required nursing degree courses. To be removed from the provisional status, the student must make a “B” or better in each graduate-level course in the first nine (9) hours. A grade of C, D, or F in any course attempted during the 9 hours in provisional status will result in dismissal from the program and the Graduate School. A request to repeat a course will be taken under advisement and considered on a case by case basis. An applicant not having a minimum of 2.7 cumulative GPA on upper division baccalaureate work may consider additional undergraduate nursing courses as an unclassified student to raise GPA in the last 60 hours.

Non-Degree Classified Admission

Applicants not meeting the GRE formula for regular admission may be allowed to register for graduate nursing courses in the non-degree classified status for one semester. Credits earned with a letter grade A or B while in non-degree status may be applied toward a degree upon approval of the student’s advisor, the Dean of the major program, and the Graduate Dean, where applicable. Not more than twelve (12) semester hours of graduate work completed while in non-degree status may be applied toward a degree. Priority for registering for graduate nursing courses is provided to regular admission status students.

Admission to the practicum component of either advanced practice concentration (FNP or PMHNP) means that the MSN degree-seeking student is eligible to progress beyond the core courses to complete the program of study. Applications for admission to the practicum component should occur during the semester in which the student is scheduled to complete the core course work.

The following criteria will be considered for admission to the Family Nurse Practitioner or Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner concentrations:

The Graduate Coordinator will notify students of the status of their application at the close of the semester in which they have applied, following calculation of final GPA. Once admitted to the declared NP concentration, the student is expected to follow the full-time or part-time degree plan which becomes part of their record. Students who do not follow their degree plan may lose a practicum slot and will be required to reapply to the role concentration.